Becoming HIM | The Hakeem Marion Story

[chosenone58]

NICE!!!

[The JZA]

50 burger

The Murder Burger

18/18 from the stripe. They couldn't stop the attack.

That baseline attack was their kryptonite, they couldn't guard him there.

NICE!!!

[Stlducks]

Another 50 point game.

[The JZA]

Another 50 point game.

Man got game

[The JZA]

Chapter III: Cracking The 25

Things were looking up, man. Through ten games, we stood at 9-1 and undefeated at home. I was on a high on this much early success, but I had expected nothing less from my-self. I push my-self hard everyday at practice, and I do my best to push my teammates even harder. When they give it 100%, I give it 200%. I made it very clear from the beginning I'm not here to play nice. My scholarship was earned and I'ma abuse it, beat it up, and throw it away when I'm done with it. Most importantly, I'm only here to upstage the person I was yesterday to be the man I want to be tomorrow. And so far, the plan was working. Everything was falling in line. I found my-self in the library most afternoons. The quiet was euphoric while I study film and analytics of the last game, getting deets on the next opposing team wherever online. I didn't just want to know my own, but everyone's assignment, who was who, and their strengths and weaknesses. Coach Shrewsberry was thorough with his game plan and strategies, but I needed to be three steps ahead. I was playing chess, not checkers.

Deep into my studies, unbeknownst to me, a feminine figure sat next to me. I gave no thoughts to advert my attention until I heard her voice a few minutes later. "... So, you're him?"

I draw my eyes to her, she's a pretty petite Caucasian girl, look no more than 20 years old. Straight black hair, slender build with alluring brown eyes. After slightly pausing to profile her, I nonchalantly responded, "Indeed, I am."

"The freshman basketball superstar, who has the cheer leading squad melting in his hands, as well as other girls around campus. Mr. Suave, Mr. Cool, Mr. Charming."

"If what you're hearing around campus, it's for promotional use only."

"Promotional use only? Sooo, what you're saying is that none of that stuff is true?"

"You can press your luck and find out", I said without looking her way. "You can find out and have the time of your life, or miss out on a great opportunity, choice is yours. But the only truth is, I am him."

"Yeah, they said you were a bit arrogant. I was hoping that wasn't true either."

"Nah, that's all me, adds to my character."

"And why's that, huh?"

"Simple. I back up what I say, what I do. I'm that guy. I may be a freshman, but I'm big dog on campus."

"You're really that full of yourself?" She asked with a smirk. I caught a glance of it before she tried to straighten up her face.

"I got to be. I'm my own biggest fan."

"I see that..."

"So, whom do I have the pleasure sharing my presence with?" I calmly asked, shifting the spotlight on her.

"I'm Keri. Keri Stevenson, your royal highness." she sarcastically introduced herself.

"Royal highness, I like that. May need to fit that in my identity."

"Uh! No, don't do that, please don't."

"Alright, alright, I'll hold off the idea for now. But one day, I'll be king."

"Yeah, you keep that dream, Mr. Marion."

"So, we gonna shoot the banter, or you gonna tell me about yourself?" I asked. That followed learning that She's a junior, from Buffalo. Keri was from a big family, one of seven children, the youngest, in fact, as well as the first to go to college. Her major was culinary with the goal of opening up her restaurant or food bar one day. For a very petite girl, you definitely couldn't tell that she was a foodie. But feeding hungry people is big business, something I can respect when it comes to curating food for the masses.

"I'm digging it, that's cool. So, you got a niche you'd like to step in in that field of work? Gourmet, bakery?"

"Well, I'm not all that great with gourmet recipes, but I'm sifting through some cookbooks to find some easy ones to start off with. But bakery and traditional meals, that's my bread and butter, pun intended", Keri giggles. "I make a lot of sweets as my forte for now."

"You're wildly too petite to be packing away all those experimental sweets, how do you manage?"

"Oh! I forgot to mention, they're diabetic sweets. Cake, buns, cookies, all sugarless, but with the same sweetness as they original product. I take them to local schools and hand them out for lunches with a feedback card. I've been using that system of critique to margin my ingredients."

"That's dope. sugarless sweets that's healthy and still delicious, I get it, that's what's up. And how's that been working out for you?"

"Pretty well, to say the least. I spent the last two summers interning at bakeries, getting the hands on experience serving original products, perfecting the original formula and taking that home to tweak it. It's been a rather journey, but one I appreciate looking back at it and seeing how far I came with it."

"You mentioned that they're diabetic sweets. You're diabetic? Or any particular reason otherwise?"

"Oh, no, not me, but people in my family are. And seeing them not being able to have that little joy that gets you through the day, it became my dream to give them that bit of sweetness back, and to others if I can."

"A noble conquest. I dig it."

"And you? What brings you here? What's your story?"

"My story? My story has yet to begin, epically foreshadowing."

"Putting an asterisk next to yours, I see."

"Better believe it. It's one to be awe of... But I'm just a native New Yorker from Brazil, traveling this road to greatness."

We get on with our conversation, giving her little details, not too much. I'm not the conservative type, but to come out of nowhere and talk to me, I had to know her game, what's her angle. Thus far, she kept a clean nose about her-self, but you can never be too cautious with people's intentions these days. As the conversation indulged our distractions, Jalen makes his presence known.

"Yo, yo! There he is!"

"Hey, what's up JP? Everything's cooking?"

"Pft! Everything? Everything and then some. Been looking all over for you."

"Oh yeah? What's the word?"

"Well, for starters, congratulations Mr. Player of the Week. This your second time this season they called your name."

"Heh, you expect anything less? I told you this was a hostile takeover. I'm going to the top, Penn State going with me."

"Yeah, I hear you dogs. You keep playing that way, you'll be an easy fix for a few more hardware later on. Speaking of which, we cracked that 25 poll, baby! That win over Illinois put us at #24."

"That's real, man. Don't get use to it. I won't settle for nothing less than numero uno."

"Bueno, muy bueno!" Jalen grinned. "You got anymore 50 burgers left in you? We can use another against Minny. They're no joke."

"Shiiit, I got about 50 of them left. What you need? Murder burger? Big Mac? Triple deluxe? or a royale with cheese?"

"You know, let me get a royale with cheese, I like that."

"Say less. We on it come game time. I'ma sufley that bad boy for you."

"Aight, bet." Jalen dapped me up before departing. "Aye, hold up. Sup with y'all? This you? God damn bro, ain't been here six months and already got the girls."

"Hehe, oh no, it's nothing like that. We just met." Keri implied as she lightly blushed.

"Apparently, I'm spoken for." I smirked at Keri.

"Well, I think I'll take my leave too. I'll let you get back to your basketball stuff."

"Alright, well, it was nice meeting you. But I have to ask, I'm curious, what made you approach me so boldly?"

"Oh, no reason at all, just wanted to see what all the hype is about."

"You impressed?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe a little, maybe some. Who knows, maybe I caught one of your games, maybe I followed you on social media. We'll just have to see furthermore while the jury is still out."

"Well, tell the jury that recess is over and come convict me as a "guilty pleasure"", I winked at Keri.

"Heh, bye Hakeem."

I watched her petite frame walk out of my sight. Petite women isn't really my thing, but something about her was hitting for me. I might've had my interest pique on her, see what she's about, but I soon returned back to my main focus, basketball. She may be onto something, but I was onto something greater, and I deem no obstacles to render me...

[The JZA]

[The JZA]

[chosenone58]

The boy scored over half the points.

[Agent]

[kibaxx7]

It's happening.